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Sidney James

Sidney James

Actor · Died April 26, 1976, aged 62 · Hillbrow, Johannesburg, Union of South Africa

Sidney James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; May 8, 1913 – April 26, 1976) was a South African-born English-based actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona. Bruce Forsyth summed up his talent thus: "He was a natural at being natural."

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 8, 1913
Died
April 26, 1976 (aged 62)
From
Hillbrow, Johannesburg, Union of South Africa
Works as
Actor
Titles
58 on MovieCove · 143 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 23% in 30 days

What are Sidney James' films like?

Across their 47 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 47 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Light 34 · Serious 8 · Dark 5

A split, not a type: Grounded 24 · Stylized 17 · Heightened 6

A split, not a type: Gentle 23 · Charged 20 · Intense 4

Steady 28 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 3

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 27

Slow burn 22 · Even-paced 24 · Relentless 1

Casual 34 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 1

Resolved 44 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

30 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 10 of 30 analyzed roles.

Trickster
10 of 30
Hero
8 of 30
Ally
4 of 30
Threshold guardian
3 of 30
Herald
2 of 30
Shadow
2 of 30
Shapeshifter
1 of 30
Show the 30 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
21
Warm
23
Absurd
19
Tense
18
Melancholic
7
Other
25

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy32
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Sidney James' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 58 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Subscription and free streaming for Sidney James' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

143 credits, 58 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Carry On Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • On Location: The Carry Ons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Various Characters (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The Golden Gong(1985)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • ITV Christmas Comedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 15 episodes · Actor

  • That's Carry On!(1977)

    as Various Characters (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
  • To See Such Fun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

  • Carry On Laughing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Baron Hubert · as Lovelace · as Prince Rupert / Arnold Basket · as Sir Francis Drake

  • Carry on Dick(1974)

    as Big Dick Turpin

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Carry on Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Mr. Belcher / Seed Pod / Sir Henry / Sergeant Will Ball / Robin Hood

  • Carry on Girls(1973)

    as Councillor Sid Fiddler

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • What a Carry On! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Carry on Abroad(1972)

    as Vic Flange

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
  • Bless This House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Sid Abbot

  • Carry on Matron(1972)

    as Sid Carter

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
  • All This, and Christmas Too! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Sid Jones

  • Carry on at Your Convenience(1971)

    as Sid Plummer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Carry On Henry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as King Henry VIII

  • Bless This House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 66 episodes · as Alf Carter · as Sid Abbott

  • Carry On Again Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Long John Silver

  • Carry on Loving(1970)

    as Sidney Bliss

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Carry on Up the Jungle(1970)

    as Mr. Bill Boosey

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • Carry On Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Ebenezer Scrooge

  • Carry On Christmas Specials (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Carry on Again Doctor(1969)

    as Gladstone Screwer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Carry on Camping(1969)

    as Sid Boggle

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • Two in Clover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 13 episodes · as Sid Turner

  • Carry on Up the Khyber(1968)

    as Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • Carry on Doctor(1967)

    as Mr. Charlie Roper

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • Carry on Don't Lose Your Head(1967)

    as Sir Rodney Ffing, the Black Fingernail

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • George and the Dragon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 26 episodes · Actor

  • Where the Bullets Fly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Mortuary Attendant

  • Don't Utter a Note (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Basher Bates

  • Carry on Cowboy(1965)

    as Johnny Finger, the Rumpo Kid

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • The Big Job (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as George Brain

  • Tokoloshe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Harry Parsons

  • Three Hats for Lisa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Sid Marks

  • Carry on Cleo(1964)

    as Mark Antony

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
  • The Beauty Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as 'Butlins' Judge

  • Taxi! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 26 episodes · as Sid Stone

  • Carry on Cabby(1963)

    as Charlie Hawkins

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
  • We Joined the Navy(1962)

    as Dance Instructor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Carry on Cruising(1962)

    as Captain Wellington Crowther

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
  • What a Whopper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Harry Sutton

  • No Place Like Homicide!(1961)

    as Sid Butler

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • Raising the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Sid

  • Double Bunk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Sid Randall

  • The Green Helmet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Richie Launder

  • A Weekend with Lulu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Café Patron

  • Carry on Regardless(1961)

    as Mr. Bert Handy

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Look at Life: Up To Scratch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's(1960)

    as Alphonse O'Reilly

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
  • Citizen James (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 32 episodes · Creator · as Sidney 'Sid' Balmoral James

  • Watch Your Stern (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Chief Petty Officer Mundy

  • Carry On Constable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Sergeant Frank Wilkins

  • And the Same to You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Sammy Gatt

  • Tommy the Toreador (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Cadena

  • Upstairs and Downstairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as P.C. Edwards

  • Idol on Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Herbie

  • The 39 Steps(1959)

    as Perce Baker

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • Too Many Crooks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Sid

  • Make Mine a Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Sid Gibson

  • Desert Mice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Bert Bennett

  • Look at Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 4 episodes · as Narrator

  • Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • Hell, Heaven or Hoboken(1958)

    as Porter YMCA

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
  • The Adventures of William Tell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Schaffner

  • The Man Inside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Franklin

  • Next to No Time!(1958)

    as Albert, Cabin Steward

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • Another Time, Another Place(1958)

    as Jake Klein

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
  • The Silent Enemy(1958)

    as Chief Petty Officer Thorpe

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • Hancock's Half Hour: Volume 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Sidney Balmoral James

  • The Story of Esther Costello (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Joe Ryan

  • A King in New York(1957)

    as Johnson - TV Advertiser

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
  • Campbell's Kingdom(1957)

    as Tim, MacDonald's driver-rigger

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Hell Drivers(1957)

    as Dusty, Truck Driver

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
  • The Shiralee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Luke

  • Quatermass 2(1957)

    as Jimmy Hall

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
  • Big Time Operators(1957)

    as Mr. Hogg

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
  • Pickup Alley(1957)

    as Joe - First Bartender

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Dry Rot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Flash Harry

  • The Buccaneers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Chantey Jack

  • The Iron Petticoat(1956)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Basher Bates

  • Hancock's Half Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 57 episodes · Actor

  • Trapeze(1956)

    as Snake Charmer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
  • Wicked as They Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Frank Allenborg

  • Ramsbottom Rides Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Black Jake

  • The Extra Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Barney West

  • The Deep Blue Sea(1955)

    as Man outside bar

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
  • Joe Macbeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Banky

  • A Kid for Two Farthings(1955)

    as Ice Berg

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • John and Julie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Mr. Pritchett

  • The Glass Cage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Tony Lewis

  • Out of the Clouds(1955)

    as Henry, the Gambler

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • A Yank in Ermine(1955)

    as Nightclub manager

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
  • It's a Great Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Harry Mason

  • Aunt Clara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Honest Sid

  • Orders Are Orders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Ed Waggermeyer

  • The Crowded Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Joe, the Night Watchman

  • Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • Crest of the Wave(1954)

    as Charlie Badger

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
  • Cocktails in the Kitchen(1954)

    as Foreman

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Father Brown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Bert Parkinson

  • The Rainbow Jacket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Harry

  • Heat Wave(1954)

    as Beverly Forrest (as Sidney James)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Young and Willing(1954)

    as Syd Baden

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Escape by Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Gino Rossini

  • The Wedding of Lilli Marlene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Fennimore Hunt

  • Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Hank Hanlon

  • Park Plaza 605 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Supt. Williams (as Sidney James)

  • Will Any Gentleman...? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Mr. Hobson

  • The Square Ring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Adams

  • Bad Blonde(1953)

    as Sharkey (as Sidney James)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • The Titfield Thunderbolt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Harry Hawkins

  • The Yellow Balloon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Charlie

  • Cosh Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Desk Sergeant

  • Box for One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Actor

  • Miss Robin Hood(1952)

    as Sidney (as Sidney James)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • The Assassin(1952)

    as Bernardo

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • Father's Doing Fine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Taxi Driver

  • Time, Gentlemen, Please! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Eric Hace

  • Glory at Sea(1952)

    as Ned Hardy, Landlord Golden Bull

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • The Hundred Hour Hunt(1952)

    as Danny Marks

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Tall Headlines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Mr. Spencer, neighbor

  • I Believe in You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Sergeant Body

  • The Magic Box (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Army Sergeant

  • Bikini Baby(1951)

    as Lew Beeson

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • The Lavender Hill Mob(1951)

    as Lackery Wood

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
  • The Galloping Major (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Bookmaker

  • Talk of a Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as John C. Moody

  • The Lady Craved Excitement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Carlo

  • Last Holiday(1950)

    as Joe Clarence

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • The Man in Black (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Henry Clavering / Hodson

  • Give Us This Day(1949)

    as Murdin

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
  • Paper Orchid(1949)

    as Freddy Evans (as Sidney James)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The Small Back Room(1949)

    as 'Knucksie' Moran

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
  • Once a Jolly Swagman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Rowton

  • It's Hard to be Good (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Platform guard (uncredited)

  • The Front Page (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Hildy Johnson

  • No Orchids for Miss Blandish(1948)

    as uncredited

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • Nightbeat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Nixon (as Sidney James)

  • Black Memory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Eddie Clinton

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 142 titles from 1947 to 2015; peak year 1971.

Film career

19472015

Peak 1971 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1948Screen debut· No Orchids for Miss Blandish
  • 1960First top-billed film· Carry On Constable
  • 1964Career best· Carry On Cleo

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting142 of 142: 141 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score50thOther crew1 of 142: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1940s9 · acting1950s78 · acting1960s34 · 34 acting · 1 crew1970s17 · acting1980s1 · acting1990s1 · acting2000s1 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 50% of 38 roles
48586368

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Sidney James' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of all 58; across their 47 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Approval · how many liked their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Reach · how many have seen their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Midcredits score across 58 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th22
  • 25th to 49th24
  • Below 25th4

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 45 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Sidney James' work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 3 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Sex & Nudity6 titles27–49 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 33

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Sidney James work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sidney James' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Gerald Thomas shares the most, 18.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • Joan Sims16 titles
    See newest 12 of 16 shared titles with Joan Sims
  • Kenneth Williams15 titles
    See newest 12 of 15 shared titles with Kenneth Williams
  • Charles Hawtrey14 titles
    See newest 12 of 14 shared titles with Charles Hawtrey
  • Hattie Jacques11 titles
    See all 11 shared titles with Hattie Jacques

Composers, cinematographers and editors

  • Eric Rogers16 titles
    See newest 12 of 16 shared titles with Eric Rogers
  • Alfred Roome11 titles
    See all 11 shared titles with Alfred Roome
  • Ernest Steward11 titles
    See all 11 shared titles with Ernest Steward
  • Alan Hume9 titles
    See all 9 shared titles with Alan Hume

Producers

Mixed roles